Page 36 of Nothing Heals Me Like You Do

“That’s exactly why I can’t resist you,” Sienna said.

“We’re definitely putting the ‘fun’ in dysfunctional,” Justine replied.

Sienna snickered because it was funny and true—and what else was she going to do? But she stubbornly refused to believe that she was setting herself up for a fall with Justine. For all the verbal warnings Justine had given about her personality and her track record of failed relationships, she hadn’t acted like that with Sienna at all—and actions spoke so much louder than words.

Justine kept turning up, kept returning her calls, kept initiating hookups herself. They were in the early stages of a relationship and it was quite obvious that it was exactly where they both wanted to be.

“Maybe I should introduce you to my dad as my lover one of these days, now that he’s in town and apparently very eager to spend time with me. He even told me that he was fascinated by you.”

“Fascinated? What does that mean?”

“You must have impressed him when you talked to him on the phone after his donation.” Sienna could easily see why. So much about Justine was impressive and, unlike so many people in this city, she wasn’t all talk. She literally changed young people’s lives.

Justine just shrugged. She seemed completely immune to any kind of compliment—unlike to cold hard cash in the shelter’s bank account.

“By the way,” Sienna said. “My mom and sister already know about you.”

“What?” Justine did a double take. “Seriously?”

“We’re very close on that side of the family.” Sienna grinned. “So I told them I was hooking up with a middle-aged white lady.”

“What did your mom say?” Worry crossed Justine’s face.

“Relax.” Sienna wasn’t sure if she should share with Justine what she’d told her mom and Taissa—that it wasn’t serious. “My mom’s chill. And I’m thirty-six so more than old enough to make my own choices.” She’d make sure they didn’t visit the set on a day that Justine was there, which shouldn’t be too hard since Justine had claimed she wouldn’t visit anymore—although Sienna didn’t believe a word of that.

“But still,” was all Justine added.

“Don’t worry about it.” Sienna considered that, when she saw her family next, she might have to retract some of the things she’d said about Justine, because it was already so much more than what she’d made them believe. It was getting serious. “Hey, um…” Sienna pushed herself against Justine’s warm, comforting body. “Alexis and I are doing an intimate scene tomorrow.” Sienna looked Justine in the eye. “I’m literally getting it on with you tomorrow.”

“Oh, god.” Justine shook her head.

“I think I need to get in some more practice.”

“This fucking movie,” Justine said on a sigh, although her tone of voice was anything but annoyed. “I was led to believe the intimate scene was fade to black. Did the script change?”

“Scripts change all the time.” The script hadn’t changed that much regarding this particular scene, but it was too delightful to rile Justine up like this. “Although I can assure you that the movie version will never be as sexy as being in bed with the real Justine Blackburn.”

“Ah, so you think I’m sexy, huh? Does that mean you’re into fifty-something white ladies?”

“Not usually,” Sienna blurted out. “But I’m so into you. You have no idea.”

“I have a pretty good idea.” Justine pushed one of Sienna’s braids away from her face. “So much so, in fact, that I’d like to invite you to something this weekend.”

“As your date?” Sienna’s blood suddenly seemed to tingle in her veins.

“It’s not really a date kind of situation.” Justine smiled apologetically. “We’re hosting a drag benefit for the shelter on Saturday. I’d love it if you could come. If you don’t have any other plans, of course. I know it’s short notice.”

“I’ll happily rearrange whatever I’ve got going on. What’s your role? Are you dressing up?”

“Me?” Justine chuckled. “No, but a few of the kids are. We’ve been doing some drag workshops. It’s not all doom and gloom at the shelter.” The smile that broke on Justine’s face could only come from a place of deep joy. “If you want to make a surprise drag king appearance, you’re very welcome, of course.”

“How about I just show up?” Sienna studied Justine’s face. “Should I bring some friends or is it too soon for that?”

“Too soon for what?” Justine grinned. Playing innocent was not her forte.

“If I bring my friends, I’ll want to introduce you.”

“We’re pretty much sold out.” Justine was still grinning, though. “But we always have a few spare tickets for VIPs. You can bring a friend or two.”

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